22 Oct 2026
#4 October 2026: India Aviation Newsletter
Government To Begin Bidding For 11 Airports By December
The Government of India plans to begin bidding for 11 Airports Authority of India airports by December, following investor roadshows in Dubai, Singapore and Mumbai. The airports will be offered in five bundles under 50-year leases, pairing larger airports with smaller regional facilities, with limits proposed on how many bundles a single bidder can secure.
Air India And SpiceJet Cut Capacity As Akasa Air Expands
India’s scheduled domestic airline capacity is expected to fall by just over 2% year-on-year in October 2026. Air India and SpiceJet have reduced capacity, while Akasa Air has expanded by more than one-third and IndiGo continues to account for around half of total scheduled domestic capacity.
IndiGo Prepares Long-Haul Reset As Boeing 787 Lease Ends
IndiGo is preparing to end its damp-lease arrangement for six Boeing 787-9 aircraft from 31 October 2026 as it shifts its long-haul strategy towards the Airbus A321XLR and A350-900. The airline has ordered 40 A321XLRs and 60 A350-900s as it works towards increasing international capacity to around 40% of its network by FY2030.
Acumen’s Take
On India’s Airport Privatisation Programme
The next airport privatisation round reflects continued private-sector participation in India’s aviation infrastructure growth. Bundling larger airports with regional facilities could support investment across a wider network while encouraging balanced development.
On Domestic Airline Capacity
The latest capacity changes show differing growth strategies across India’s airline market. While some carriers are reducing scheduled capacity, Akasa Air’s expansion and IndiGo’s continued scale underline the competitive shifts taking place across the domestic sector.
On IndiGo’s Long-Haul Strategy
IndiGo’s transition from leased 787 capacity towards the A321XLR and A350 marks a significant step in developing its own long-haul fleet strategy. The combination of long-range narrowbody and widebody aircraft gives the carrier greater flexibility to serve different international market sizes as its network expands.
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